Tesla is going to begin pilot manufacturing on the Model 3 by February 20, volume production in July

On Wednesday, Tesla affirmed it will close down its California plant to retool it for creation of the (ideally) high-volume Model 3. The brief, arranged respite (as per Tesla) is to grow its paint shop, perform general maintenance, and prep the plant for expanded productivity.

February 20 is Tesla’s target for prime creation on the Model 3, as indicated by Reuters. These first vehicles are test development models, used to pound out manufacturing challenges, confirm parts of vehicle performance, and make sure the assembly lines can flow easily. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said more than 370,000 individuals made installments on the Model A3, and he expects to start full-scale production in July 2017.

A lot is on the line for Musk and Tesla. The Model 3 has a lengthy waiting list and Tesla just constructed 83,922 vehicles in FY 2016. I would prefer not to sound like I’m limiting the organization’s achievements — it sent 1.64x vehicles in 2016 than 2015 and that is a notable improvement by any measure. Yet, Chevrolet as of now has the Bolt and Volt in-market, and there’s a significant contention to be made in that EV’s favor.

Before I get mobbed by irate Internet commenters, I’m very much aware that the Model 3 profits by a considerable halo effect, Tesla’s fabulous battery innovation and supercharger framework, and a lower MSRP. I’m not contending that Chevy will destroy Tesla, so everybody ought to cancel their pre-orders.

Musk states he wants to bring vehicle production at Tesla up to 500,000 vehicles for every year by 2018, which implies the organization should sell six times the number of vehicles than it sold in 2016. That is a colossal rate of increment — 1.64x every year for both 2017 and 2018 would just give Musk a production rate of 225,716 vehicles for each year.

Investors are somewhat questionable of Tesla’s guarantees to start full creation by July, given that the organization has normally missed its release windows. In any case, this one is non-debatable if Tesla needs to show that it’s grown up and prepared to go up against the well established car manufacturers directly.